From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has commenced budget discussions and reviews with ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) ahead of the 2027 fiscal year.
Declaring the budget discussion session open, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Bashir Muhammad Achida, said the ministry would ensure the preparation of a budget based on accurate data and verifiable evidence.
Under the arrangement, all MDAs are expected to submit their 2027 budget proposals to the ministry for critical analysis, review and deliberation to reach a consensus.
Achida emphasized that submissions must be based on the mandates of the respective MDAs and aligned with the state’s economic priorities.
He also charged MDAs to operate within approved expenditure ceilings, provide clear and specific descriptions of all budget lines, and ensure that their proposals align with Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s 9-Point SMART Agenda.
The commissioner further urged MDAs to reduce waste, eliminate duplicate projects and focus resources on areas with the greatest impact on citizens.
He stressed that existing projects must be reviewed based on performance, while new projects should be properly prioritized.
Achida reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accountability, value for money and results-driven spending in the 2027 Budget.
He said the theme of this year’s deliberation is: “Strengthening Budget Discipline, Clarity and Alignment with Government Priorities.”
According to him, the exercise is aimed at ensuring that MDAs desist from submitting inaccurate or unclear data in their 2027 budget proposals.
He noted that the ministry seeks to achieve greater clarity in budget headings and sub-headings, while ensuring that proposed expenditures remain consistent with government priorities.
He explained that the essence of the budget process is to ensure that government spending produces tangible and impactful results for the public good.
“A good budget is not only about how much is allocated, but also about clearly explaining what the money is intended to achieve,” he said.
Achida said the 2027 Budget must provide the financial instruments required to implement the policies and priorities of the government.
He therefore urged MDAs to ensure that their proposed programmes and projects are directly linked to the government’s 9-Point SMART Agenda and other approved development priorities.
He added that budget proposals should demonstrate clear links between government priorities, programmes and activities, outputs and expected outcomes.
The commissioner cautioned MDAs against proposing projects simply because they appeared in previous budgets.
He said existing projects should be reviewed based on their relevance, performance, completion status and contribution to government priorities.
He further said new projects should undergo proper prioritization to ensure that scarce public resources are directed towards interventions with the highest developmental impact.
The Ministries of Skills Acquisition, Agriculture, and Livestock and Fisheries, alongside their parastatals, were among the first to present their 2026 performance reports and 2027 plans.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Animal Health and Fisheries, Alhaji Almustapha Abubakar Alkali, said his ministry received between 45 and 50 percent of its 2026 budget allocation.
He expressed optimism that the ministry would receive higher releases in 2027, stressing that the agricultural sector would receive significant attention and support to enable it to deliver more to farmers across the state.
He said the people of Sokoto should expect improved performance, following the new guidelines issued by the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning requiring MDAs to clearly explain how they intend to implement their budget proposals before funds are released.
Alkali commended the efforts of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and recommended that all ministries, parastatals and agencies submit detailed budget proposals containing clear explanations and realistic projections.
He disclosed that the state government is prioritizing agriculture, noting that it had recently procured 250 tractors for distribution to farmers across the state.
He added that the 250 tractors are in addition to the 100 tractors allocated to Sokoto State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complement Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s efforts to boost agricultural production.
According to him, the 350 tractors will be leased to farmers for agricultural activities across the state.
Sokoto State Ministry of Budget
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